Picture frame simulating strip

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a picture frame simulator of right-angle shape representative of the corner of a picture frame, there being a series of consecutive right-angle strips arranged in parallel with oneanother with the apex of one strip aligned with the apex of the next consecutive strips of the right-angle strips and being separate from other strips with a flexible backing strip along one leg of the back of the consecutive strips consecutively, such that the consecutive strips of the series are foldable backwardly one relative to the other such that an upper right-angle strip may be used with the lower ones folded out of the way such that the upper right-angle strip may be utilized for its simulative picture-framing function relative to a particular square cornered picture to be framed, the respective ones of the series of simulator right-angle strips differing in color and/or design of their upper surfaces as representative of different available picture frame structures, and in a further preferred embodiment the respective strips being detachable from the backing strip and when detached being mountable on top of a lower strip or of another strip being adjacent to another strip in order to get the full subjective impression of a particular double bordered picture frame where the colors of the consecutive strips as mounted on the backing strips are different than that is desired to be compared for a particular picture.

United States Patent [1 1 Shore [451 Jan. 7, 1975 PICTURE FRAMESIMULATING STRIP [76] Inventor: Frank Shore, 305 W. 28th St., New York,NY. 10001 [22 Filed: May 18, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 361,483

Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist [57] ABSTRACT In a preferredembodiment of the invention, there is provided a picture frame simulatorof right-angle shape representative of the corner of a picture frame,there being a series of consecutive right-angle strips arranged inparallel with one-another with the apex of one strip aligned with theapex of the next consecutive strips of the right-angle strips and beingseparate from other strips with a flexible backing strip along one legof the back of the consecutive strips consecutively, such that theconsecutive strips of the series are foldable backwardly one relative tothe other such that an upper right-angle strip may be used with thelower ones folded out of the way such that the upper rightangle stripmay be utilized for its simulative pictureframing function relative to aparticular square cornered picture to be framed, the respective ones ofthe series of simulator right-angle strips differing in color and/ordesign of their upper surfaces as representative of different availablepicture frame structures, and in a further preferred embodiment therespective strips being detachable from the backi ng strip and whendetached being mountable on top of a lower strip or of another stripbeing adjacent to another strip in order to get the full subjectiveimpression of a particular double bordered picture frame whe rgthecolors of the EhsecuTi/e strips as mounted on the backing strips aredifferent than that is desired to be compared for a particular picture.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing [Figures PICTURE FRAME SIMULATING STRIP Thisinvention relates to a picture frame simulator for the demonstrating toconsumers the appearance of different types of picture frame designs andcombinations thereof for particular pictures to be framed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention,there havebeen different types of picture-frame simulating devices, the mostcommon of which is merely an angle-iron-like strip of right-angle shapesimulative of a corner of a picture frame, there being a collection ofsuch right-angle strips on different pages of a book or all separate ina pile, available to the salesman to seek and find the particularone ormore needed to simulate for a particular picture to be framed theappearance of a particular single border or alternatively by aligningtwo rightangle elements in a side-by-side relation with coincidentcorners the appearance of a double border picture frame. Disadvantagesof such devices are apparent to those who work in the trade, namely forexample the difficulty in speedily locating a particular one or moresimulator-corners, and additionally the disorderly and inconvenientportability of the distinct plurality of separate simulative cornerdevices. There is no convenient method for a salesman to carry onhisperson more than one or two at a time, as well as it not beingpractical to provide more than one set to serve for use by all salesmensimultaneously. ln the loose state, it is also likely that the one ormore of the right-angle devices will become lost or dropped to the floorand soiled or broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects of the present inventionaccordingly include the overcoming of one or more of the disadvantages,difficulties, and problems, or the avoiding thereof.

Another object is to obtain a multiple-strip simulator.

Another object is to obtain a foldable strip colorscheme simulator ofpicture frames.

Another object is to obtain one or more of 'the preceding objectstogether with the individual stripsimulating structures being variablein possible combinations of combined multi-border representation.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and followingdisclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by theinvention as defined herein.

Broadly the invention includes a series of substantially rigid stripsaligned in about parallel alignment with one-another with each of thestrips preferably having opposite parallel edges extending axially alongthe strips length, with upper and lower surfaces, the upper surfacebeing the decorated surface representative of a particular substratesuch as a picture frame or as a wall or the like, and the lower surfacebeing preferably substantially flat and mounted on a backing stripinterconnecting the series of adjacent consecutive strips with one legof the consecutive strips being uniformly mounted in series on an upperface of the backing strip, and preferably the backing strip upper faceand the lower and upper faces of the consecutive simulator strips areadapted such that each strip is detachable from the backing strip andsubsequently replaceable in its original position and when detached ismountable on top of any of the other remaining mounted strips uppersurface or face, in order to vary the order of different adjacentsurfaces so that for any particular picture frame there may be comparedor visualized the appearance of a particular predetermined border. In afurther preferred embodiment, the attaching mechanism for the attachingof the back of each respective strip to the upper face of the backingstrip isa material such as VELCRO material employed and similarly withthe upper surfaces of the respective simulator strips having a surfacesuch as VELCRO material such that any strip may be detached from theupper face of the backing strip and detachable mounted on the upper faceof any one of the remaining other mounted strips and thereafter removedand replaced to its original or other position. In greaterparticularity, in such a preferred embodiment, for example, the uppersurface of the backing strip may for example be VELCRO hooks andsimilarly the upper surface of the respective simulator strips may be ofVELCRO hooks, while the lower face of the respective simulator stripsare the VELCRO loop material, or vice-versa.

It is to be understood that in the broadest aspect of the presentinvention, there may be merely a series of parallel strips of one linearleg per strip such as could easily be used as and fora paint chart toget the comparison of combinations of different colors one beside theother while achieving the other objects of easy portability, thefoldable nature of the series for each of carrying and for folding underthe undesired portions of the chart during any particular comaprison,together with the switchable nature of the individual strips from one tothe other positions of the series on top of other strips, and the like.The backing strip running along the series of one-legged stripstransversely thereof makes possible the folding under of any one or morestrips of the series at any time.

In a preferred embodiment of the combination, the simulator strips eachincludes a second leg at a right angle to the first leg but in a sameplane as the respective upper surface of the leg from which it extendsin order to form representatively the corner of a picture frame andtherefore in a typical situation the extension defining acorner of aboutalthough other angles aretpossible for unique picture frames havingcorner angles of more than or less than 90.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates in elevation plan view a preferredembodiment of the present invention in partial cutaway.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. I as taken alonglines 22 in cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention in aview analagous to that of FIG. 1, but this embodiment includingadditional simulator means as an extension of the unsecured legsthereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates still another variation similar in its view to thatof FIGS. 1 and 3, also in elevation plan view, analagous to theextension of FIG. 3 embodiment but with the additional extension beingat a different angle thereto.

FIG. 5 illustrates a still further alternate and simplified embodimentof the present invention, but more adaptable as a paint chart since itdoes not define a corner angle needed for effective picture framesimulation preferably, this embodiment being also illustrated inelevation plan view, and in partial cut-away to disclose the backingstrip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In greater detail, with referenceto the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is disclosed in phantom arepresentative corner of a picture corner 12 to be framed and for whichit is desirable to simulate the appearance of a particular color ofsingle or double bordered frame. Accordingly, the corner of the picturehere fits into the angle 7 right angle defined between opposing legs ofthe strip 1111. Accordingly there is disclosed a multiple stripsimulator device 6 of serially consecutively arranged strips such asstrips 8a, 8b, 8c, and the like, pivotable therebetween at points 9a,9b, 9c, and the like respectively, connected by a hinge-means such astransversely running backing strip 10a of which when some of the stripsare turned-under pivotably on the flexible tape there is viewable theback of the tape tape back side 10b, and a strip back-side 11. The upperfaces of the consecutive strips are of differing colors 11a through 11hrespectively.

In the FIG. 2 embodiment, there is visible in crosssection the threeseparate strip portions 8b, 8c, and a third strip, with upper surfacecolors 11b, 11c, and 1 1d, and illustrating the strip surface 11 andbacking upper surface 10, and the strips lower VELCRO surface 11,typically the surfaces 11 and It) being VELCRO-loop surfaces and thesurface 11 being a VELCRO hook surface for each strip respectively.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate analagous embodiments to that of FIG. 1, excepthaving extensions of the unsecured (unhinged) strip legs, to formadditional pictureframe simulator corner members as disclosed, thecorresponding numbers being the same as previously identified.

FIG. 5 in like manner compares to the embodiment of FIG. 1, but is minusthe second leg per strip, and accordingly is otherwise basicallysimilar, but being devoid of the second leg is more adaptable to autility as a paint-chart having the many above-noted advantages the sameas for a picture simulator frame device. Accordingly there is disclosedconsecutive strips with opposite parallel sides as in the FIG. 1embodiment, such as strips 14 through 19, mounted on a backing strip ofrubber or plastic or paper or other flexible material such a fabric.

The composition of the strips themselves are not materially important,except that preferably they each are substantially rigid in orderto-facilitate the handling thereof. With the FIG. 5 embodiment, it mightbe noted that there is the additional advantage of being able to roll-upthe serially arranged single legs for convenient placing into a pocketor other small storage or carrying space.

It is within the scope and spirit of the present invention to make suchvariations and modifications and substitution of equivalents as would beapparent to a person of ordinary skill, as within the contemplation ofthe above illustrated and described invention which is intended tomerely facilitate a proper understanding of the heart of the invention.

I claim:

1. A picture frame-simulating device comprising in combination: aplurality of serially arranged strips each having at least two oppositesubstantially parallel edges, the parallel edges of the plurality beingsubstantially parallel to one-another of other strips of the plurality,and hinge means connecting adjacent parallel edges of seriallyconsecutive ones of the serially arranged strips, and the series ofstrips differing in appearance from one-another on their respectiveupper faces in color schemes, the parallel edges extending substantiallylineally, the hinge means comprising a flexible backing strip onto whichthe lower surface of the respective ones of the serially arranged stripseach is mounted, eac'h next consecutive strip in series adjacent apreceeding strip being foldable hackwardly. and under to beneath thepreceding strip by bending and folding backwardly the backing strip.each of the plurality of strips including a second strip portioncontinuous with and extending from a terminal end of and in a commonplane with the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion isa continuation thereof and the second strip portion being extending in adirection at a right angle to the one of the plurality of which thesecond strip portion is a continuation thereof thereby forming aright-angle corner section simulative of a corner of a picture framecorner, the backing strip extending angularly to the parallel edges in adirection pointed by the vertex of the right-angle corner section suchthat when any mounted strip is folded under the next serially adjacentstrip the second strip portion of the folded-under strip extendslaterally sidewardly.

2. A simulating device of claim 1, in which the second strip portion atan opposite end thereof includes an additional third strip portionhaving its upper surface also in about the same plane as the uppersurface of the second strip portion, and the third strip portionextending at about a right angle to the second strip portion in adirection diametrically opposite to that of the hingeconnected seriallyarranged strip respectively for the plurality.

3. A simulating device of claim 2, in which the securing means comprisesan upper surface of the backing strip and an upper surface ofsubstantially each of the plurality including one of detachably mateableloops and detachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of theplurality including the other of the detachably mateable loops anddetachably mateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality,the strip detached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one ofthe attached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on thebacking strip and on the upper faceof another remaining attached stripbeing by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateablehooks respectively.

4. A simulating device of claim I, in which the respective seriallyarranged strips are detachably mounted on said backing strip.

5. A simulating device of claim'4, in which there is included securingmeans for each strip by which a lower surface of each strip isdetachably mountable onto the backing strip and when detached, by whichthe detachable strips lower face is detachably mountable on anotherstrips upper face.

6. A simulating device of claim 5, in which the securing means comprisesan upper face of the backing strip and an upper surface of substantiallyeach of the plurality including one of detachably mateable loops anddetachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of the pluralityincluding the other of the detachably mateable loops and detachablymateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality, the stripdetached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one of theattached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on thebacking strip and on the upper face of another remaining attached stripbeing by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateablehooks respectfully.

1. A picture frame-simulating device comprising in combination: aplurality of serially arranged strips each having at least two oppositesubstantially parallel edges, thE parallel edges of the plurality beingsubstantially parallel to one-another of other strips of the plurality,and hinge means connecting adjacent parallel edges of seriallyconsecutive ones of the serially arranged strips, and the series ofstrips differing in appearance from one-another on their respectiveupper faces in color schemes, the parallel edges extending substantiallylineally, the hinge means comprising a flexible backing strip onto whichthe lower surface of the respective ones of the serially arranged stripseach is mounted, each next consecutive strip in series adjacent apreceeding strip being foldable backwardly, and under to beneath thepreceding strip by bending and folding backwardly the backing strip,each of the plurality of strips including a second strip portioncontinuous with and extending from a terminal end of and in a commonplane with the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion isa continuation thereof and the second strip portion being extending in adirection at a right angle to the one of the plurality of which thesecond strip portion is a continuation thereof thereby forming aright-angle corner section simulative of a corner of a picture framecorner, the backing strip extending angularly to the parallel edges in adirection pointed by the vertex of the right-angle corner section suchthat when any mounted strip is folded under the next serially adjacentstrip the second strip portion of the folded-under strip extendslaterally sidewardly.
 2. A simulating device of claim 1, in which thesecond strip portion at an opposite end thereof includes an additionalthird strip portion having its upper surface also in about the sameplane as the upper surface of the second strip portion, and the thirdstrip portion extending at about a right angle to the second stripportion in a direction diametrically opposite to that of thehinge-connected serially arranged strip respectively for the plurality.3. A simulating device of claim 2, in which the securing means comprisesan upper surface of the backing strip and an upper surface ofsubstantially each of the plurality including one of detachably mateableloops and detachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of theplurality including the other of the detachably mateable loops anddetachably mateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality,the strip detached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one ofthe attached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on thebacking strip and on the upper face of another remaining attached stripbeing by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateablehooks respectively.
 4. A simulating device of claim 1, in which therespective serially arranged strips are detachably mounted on saidbacking strip.
 5. A simulating device of claim 4, in which there isincluded securing means for each strip by which a lower surface of eachstrip is detachably mountable onto the backing strip and when detached,by which the detachable strip''s lower face is detachably mountable onanother strip''s upper face.
 6. A simulating device of claim 5, in whichthe securing means comprises an upper face of the backing strip and anupper surface of substantially each of the plurality including one ofdetachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks and the lowersurface of each of the plurality including the other of the detachablymateable loops and detachably mateable hooks such that upon detachingany of the plurality, the strip detached may be mounted on an upper faceof a remaining one of the attached plurality, in each instance the stripbeing mounted on the backing strip and on the upper face of anotherremaining attached strip being by a locking of detachably mateable loopsand detachably mateable hooks respectfully.